Stones of Contention

A History of Africa’s Diamonds

Nonfiction, History, Africa
Cover of the book Stones of Contention by Todd Cleveland, Ohio University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Todd Cleveland ISBN: 9780821444825
Publisher: Ohio University Press Publication: May 26, 2014
Imprint: Ohio University Press Language: English
Author: Todd Cleveland
ISBN: 9780821444825
Publisher: Ohio University Press
Publication: May 26, 2014
Imprint: Ohio University Press
Language: English

Africa supplies the majority of the world’s diamonds, yet consumers generally know little about the origins and history of these precious stones beyond sensationalized media accounts of so-called blood diamonds.

Stones of Contention explores the major developments in the remarkable history of Africa’s diamonds, from the earliest stirrings of international interest in the continent’s mineral wealth in the first millennium A.D. to the present day. In the European colonial period, the discovery of diamonds in South Africa ushered in an era of unprecedented greed during which monopolistic enterprises exploited both the mineral resources and the indigenous workforce. In the aftermath of World War II, the governments of newly independent African states, both democratic and despotic, joined industry giant De Beers and other corporations to oversee and profit from mining activity on the continent.

The book also considers the experiences of a wide array of Africans — from informal artisanal miners, company mineworkers, and indigenous authorities to armed rebels, mining executives, and premiers of mineral-rich states — and their relationships to the stones that have the power to bring both wealth and misery. With photos and maps, Stones of Contention illustrates the scope and complexity of the African diamond trade as well as its impact on individuals and societies.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Africa supplies the majority of the world’s diamonds, yet consumers generally know little about the origins and history of these precious stones beyond sensationalized media accounts of so-called blood diamonds.

Stones of Contention explores the major developments in the remarkable history of Africa’s diamonds, from the earliest stirrings of international interest in the continent’s mineral wealth in the first millennium A.D. to the present day. In the European colonial period, the discovery of diamonds in South Africa ushered in an era of unprecedented greed during which monopolistic enterprises exploited both the mineral resources and the indigenous workforce. In the aftermath of World War II, the governments of newly independent African states, both democratic and despotic, joined industry giant De Beers and other corporations to oversee and profit from mining activity on the continent.

The book also considers the experiences of a wide array of Africans — from informal artisanal miners, company mineworkers, and indigenous authorities to armed rebels, mining executives, and premiers of mineral-rich states — and their relationships to the stones that have the power to bring both wealth and misery. With photos and maps, Stones of Contention illustrates the scope and complexity of the African diamond trade as well as its impact on individuals and societies.

More books from Ohio University Press

Cover of the book Oscar Wilde and Modern Culture by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book Children in Slavery through the Ages by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book Migrating Fictions by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book It's in There!® by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book When Grandma Gatewood Took a Hike by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book Memories of Madagascar and Slavery in the Black Atlantic by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book The Riddle of Malnutrition by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book After Tears by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book In Idi Amin’s Shadow by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book Antiquarian Voices by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book Sponsored Migration by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book For the Prevention of Cruelty by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book South Sudan by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book The Wounded Woman by Todd Cleveland
Cover of the book African Asylum at a Crossroads by Todd Cleveland
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy